Ten Thousand Islands
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades National Park are one of the true last wild places in the Lower 48. Virtually all of this wilderness is accessible by boat only. Countless islands form a labyrinth across the fishery. The ride out to the fishing spot is also a birder’s delight as we see many species of resident and migratory birds.
The fish in the Ten Thousand Islands are less pressured due to the vastness of the fishery. The water is also generally a bit on the dirty side, making it difficult to see fish. The trade off is the fish are generally more willing to bite when we do find them. If you want a truly wild experience, the Ten Thousand Islands is the place for you.
To access the Ten Thousand Islands, we launch from Goodland Boat Park on the tiny fishing island of Goodland. Captain Chris only offers full day trips in the Ten Thousand Islands to maximize your opportunity for success. The boat will be loaded with water, Gatorade, snacks, and sunscreen for Ten Thousand Islands trips as there are no boat up restaurants once you are out there in the wild.
Pine Island Sound
Pine Island Sound offers the exact opposite of the 10,000 Islands, crystal clear water and challenging fish. We have no problem spotting fish in PIS. The problem is getting the darn things to eat. The persistent angler with the help of Captain Chris’s secret redfish and snook flies can often entice a bight, but fishing here is not for the faint of heart. If you can tempt a Pine Island Sound redfish to eat, you can catch fish anywhere.
Pine Island Sound surrounds Pine Island with Sanibel and Captiva Islands creating a barrier to the West and North. Matlacha Sound joins San Carlos Bay on the South and East side of the storm. The proximity to Pine Island, the barrier islands and the mainland generally offers some place to escape from the wind so we can explore countless sight fishing opportunities.
To fish Pine Island Sound, we launch out of Punta Rassa or Matlacha Community Park. These boat ramps are easily accessible from Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Naples, Sanibel and Captiva. If you are staying on Sanibel or Captiva, other pickup arrangements can be made depending on the weather. Another appeal to fishing the Sound is the abundance of boat up restaurants available for a bit to eat or a celebratory beer!